Ill. gov. wants appeal of concealed carry ruling

Posted:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 1:55 PM EDT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn wants the state's attorney general to appeal a federal court ruling that Illinois' concealed carry ban is unconstitutional. An appeal would put the matter before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Illinois is the only state with such a ban. Quinn said Wednesday that an appeal is Illinois' "only hope" of maintaining it.

Gun-rights advocates have argued that the prohibition violates the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment.

In December, a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Illinois' ban and gave lawmakers until June 8 to legalize the concealed carry of firearms.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan disagrees with Quinn. She told reporters Wednesday that she wants to see what lawmakers will do before considering an appeal.